Shipping times for the iPad mini have shrunk to one week at Apple's US and Canadian online stores. The improvement applies to both Wi-Fi and cellular models, and for all carriers and colors. Times in other countries -- such as the UK and Australia -- are still on a two-week schedule.

Apple has also been improving supplies of the iPhone 5 in recent days, despite trying to cope with the holiday shopping season. Demand for both devices is still believed to be high, though, which suggests that Apple's manufacturing chain has simply been improved and/or expanded.